TV Screen Time Increases Childhood Obesity Risk

Did you know that children who watch more than
three hours of television a day are 50 percent more likely to be obese than
children who watch fewer than two hours?

In very young children, research from the American Psychological Association has found has found that
for every one-hour increase in TV viewing per day, there is an increased
consumption of high calorie, processed foods. 

Spending hours glued to a TV screen requires a
sedentary lifestyle. Lack of physical activity is a leading obesity risk
factor, and it’s made worse when coupled with a couch-friendly bowl of
unhealthy salty, sugary, or fatty snacks. 

Obese kids, as well as teens, are more likely to
develop cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint
problems, sleep apnea, and social stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

Bottom Line: Obesity in children increases the
more hours they watch television.

Sure, it’s unrealistic to cut out all screen
time. However, given the overwhelming evidence connecting TV viewing and
unhealthy weight, we should do everything possible to limit childhood TV viewing.